The Chiltonville Congregational Church, the ninth to stem from the original Church of the Pilgrims, gathered in Scrooby, England in 1606 and regathered in Plymouth in 1620, was organized in 1814. Thacher’s History of Plymouth contains the following account:
“In 1814, a new Church and Society were formed at Eel River, from the First and Third Congregations, and being incorporated, they erected a meetinghouse in that village, which will accommodate the inhabitants in that vicinity and South Ponds, who are distant from three to six miles from their former place of worship. This is the Fourth Congregational Church and Society in Plymouth.”
The present meetinghouse was erected in 1840 during the time of the Second Great Awakening in New England.
Fourth Congregational Church split off Fifth Congregational in 1852. In 1892 a church council was gathered to hear both sides of the rift between the two. The end result was that no fault was found on either side, both 4th and 5th Congregational churches were effectively dissolved, and Chiltonville Congregational Church came into being.
Chiltonville Congregational has been served by many settled and short-term pastors. The longest tenure was achieved by Rev. Mary Goodwin (17 years). Christian education has long been a hallmark of CCC. Many years ago, a member commented that the church seemed. “to exist for its children.” A team ministry led by Dr. Charles Forman spanned some two and a half decades from 1974. May 2000 saw the arrival of Pastor Bill Fillebrown.
The original, Second Great Awakening,, traditional meetinghouse has seen many changes over the years. A new steeple was put in place in 1978 to replace the one lost in the 1938 hurricane. Two separate second floor sections have been added and in the early 1960’s a kitchen, restrooms, and a church office were completed. The partition between the chapel and the parish hall was added in 1985. A growing congregation necessitates that the partition be open each week for worship.
We are a Congregational Church, established on the pillars of the autonomy of the local, gathered church with Christ as its Head, the place and importance of the priesthood of all believers, and the necessity and value of fellowship with other Congregational churches as well as all those that seek the advancement of the kingdom of God. We are affiliated with the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (NACCC) and the Massachusetts Association of Congregational Christian Churches (MACCC).
The one thing that makes Christianity unique is Grace – the unmerited, unconditional love and forgiveness of God extended to us in and through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. This knowledge, this faith stands as the identifying mark of the Church and of Chiltonville Congregational Church.
Our grateful response to the outpouring of God’s grace comes in the form of worship that seeks to bless God with the honor and praise due His name. In turn, as God’s people, we seek to be a blessing to the world, near and far.
Our vision statement endeavors to summarize our purpose and our passion:
Loving God, loving others, serving the world, and sharing the journey.
“In 1814, a new Church and Society were formed at Eel River, from the First and Third Congregations, and being incorporated, they erected a meetinghouse in that village, which will accommodate the inhabitants in that vicinity and South Ponds, who are distant from three to six miles from their former place of worship. This is the Fourth Congregational Church and Society in Plymouth.”
The present meetinghouse was erected in 1840 during the time of the Second Great Awakening in New England.
Fourth Congregational Church split off Fifth Congregational in 1852. In 1892 a church council was gathered to hear both sides of the rift between the two. The end result was that no fault was found on either side, both 4th and 5th Congregational churches were effectively dissolved, and Chiltonville Congregational Church came into being.
Chiltonville Congregational has been served by many settled and short-term pastors. The longest tenure was achieved by Rev. Mary Goodwin (17 years). Christian education has long been a hallmark of CCC. Many years ago, a member commented that the church seemed. “to exist for its children.” A team ministry led by Dr. Charles Forman spanned some two and a half decades from 1974. May 2000 saw the arrival of Pastor Bill Fillebrown.
The original, Second Great Awakening,, traditional meetinghouse has seen many changes over the years. A new steeple was put in place in 1978 to replace the one lost in the 1938 hurricane. Two separate second floor sections have been added and in the early 1960’s a kitchen, restrooms, and a church office were completed. The partition between the chapel and the parish hall was added in 1985. A growing congregation necessitates that the partition be open each week for worship.
We are a Congregational Church, established on the pillars of the autonomy of the local, gathered church with Christ as its Head, the place and importance of the priesthood of all believers, and the necessity and value of fellowship with other Congregational churches as well as all those that seek the advancement of the kingdom of God. We are affiliated with the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (NACCC) and the Massachusetts Association of Congregational Christian Churches (MACCC).
The one thing that makes Christianity unique is Grace – the unmerited, unconditional love and forgiveness of God extended to us in and through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. This knowledge, this faith stands as the identifying mark of the Church and of Chiltonville Congregational Church.
Our grateful response to the outpouring of God’s grace comes in the form of worship that seeks to bless God with the honor and praise due His name. In turn, as God’s people, we seek to be a blessing to the world, near and far.
Our vision statement endeavors to summarize our purpose and our passion:
Loving God, loving others, serving the world, and sharing the journey.